"You must be very romantic," answered Precious, smiling, though the crimson blushes seemed to burn her lovely face. A moment later she added, in a pensive tone: "I have never seen Lord Chester but once. He is very grand and handsome, but he is my sister Ethel's lover." "Oh! So he saved your life for her sweet sake! She must really adore him for his bravery; but I wish he would fall in love with you now, you beautiful darling!" cried impulsive Ladybird, entirely disregarding Ethel's claim in her love of romantic denouements. Norah came in just then with Ladybird's clothing nicely dried and pressed, and by the time she was dressed, and the fluffy curls dried, Earle Winans returned to take her home. As it was almost sunset, she took an affectionate leave of her new friend, promising to keep up the pleasant friendship begun to-day, neither of them dreaming of the untoward events that a day was to bring forth. CHAPTER XV. DID A SHADOW FROM THE FUTURE FALL OVER THAT YOUNG, DREAMING HEART? "Like the changeful month of spring Is my love, my lady-love; Sunshine beams and glad birds sing, Then a rain-cloud floats above: So your moods change with the wind, April-tempered lady-love; All the sweeter to my mind, You're a riddle, lady-love." As Earle Winans took his seat by Ladybird in his elegant little phaeton, she stole a quick glance at his dark, handsome face, and wondered at the gravity of his thoughtful eyes. She did not know of the scene with Aura that afternoon, or she would have understood his mood. He did not look at her nor speak to her for several minutes, and suddenly he heard a low, half-suppressed sob. He turned to her quickly, exclaiming: "What is the matter, Ladybird? You are not ill from your wetting?" But a tempest of anger was swelling in the little beauty's breast, and her first words showed him the cause. "You wouldn't care if I died, you great big coward!" she sobbed, and a pearly tear dropped from her long eyelash and splashed upon her cheek. "Ladybird!" indignantly. "Don't call me Ladybird! I'm Miss Conway to you ever after to-day! You didn't care if I was drowned! You didn't jump in the river to save me like those noble heroes! You just stood on the bank with your arms folded, afraid of getting drowned or spoiling your nice clothes, maybe," with a scornful glance. "Then, when the others had rescued me, and brought me to shore, you came so coolly and made me go up to your house with you for some dry clothes. And--and--before to-day I had thought you were so noble, so brave!" sobbed Ladybird, in passionate earnest, for she had plotted the little romance just to show Aura Stanley her power over Earle, and the failure was a cruel blow. But Earle did not take her tirade seriously. His dark eyes twinkled and his lips twitched with repressed laughter as he answered significantly: